[GBlist] Re: Units of Measure

[Sarah Holland/David Foley <hollandfoley@acadia.net>]

on 10/30/2001 4:52 PM, Lance Fletcher at fletch@javanet.com wrote:

> Sacie,
> 
> Another factor in the size of the fan is the BTU output of the range beneath
> it. The large, pro-type kitchen ranges popular with the haute boutgeousie
> these days require powerful fans -e.g. 1200 cfm. Not very green, but
> necessary if a client insists on the range. Check the range manufacturer's
> specs.
> 
> Lance Fletcher, AIA
> 14 South Freeport Road
> Freeport, ME 04032
> 
This is to second Lance's observation.  Lineal feet of range isn't a good
guide to fan needs.  After all, there are gas "stock pot" burners that are
no more than a foot wide but put out 50,000 Btu (14.6KW) or more.

Sorry, Sacie, but I can't be of much help except to suggest speaking with
the good folks at EFI, Inc., in Massachusetts, at 1-800-876-0660.  I have no
financial affiliation with them; I just find them to be knowledgeable and
helpful with ventilation questions.

My real purpose in chiming in is to remind folks that units of measure
matter.  Often, a lot of information that looks authoritative falls apart
when one scrutinizes the units.  Sacie's example of "CFM per lineal foot of
range" is a good example.  Another good example is the economist who once
told me that energy isn't very important to the economy because the entire
energy sector is only about 8% of Gross Domestic Product.  Well gee,
vitamins are much less than 1% of your body, but try doing without them!
Percentage of GDP is the wrong unit of measure.

Quitting now before this becomes a rant,

David Foley
-- 
Holland & Foley Building Design L.L.C.
232 Beech Hill Rd.
Northport, Maine 04849 USA
p: (207) 338-9869 f: (207) 338-9859 e: hollandfoley@acadia.net


______________________________________________________________________
This greenbuilding dialogue is sponsored by REPP/CREST, creator of
Solstice http://www.crest.org, and BuildingGreen, Inc., publisher of
Environmental Building News and GreenSpec http://www.BuildingGreen.com
______________________________________________________________________